ENTHYMEME (Gr. v, Buµos)  , in formal logic, the technical name of a syllogistic argument which is incompletely stated . Any one of the premises may be omitted, but in general it is that one which is most obvious or most naturally present to the mind . In point of fact the full formal statement of a syllogism is rare, especially in rhetorical language, when the deliberate omission of one of the premises has a dramatic effect . This the suppression of the conclusion may have the effect of emphasizing the idea which necessarily follows from the premises . Far commoner is the omission of one of the premises which is either too clear to need statement or of a character which makes its omission desirable . A famous instance quoted in the Port Royal Logic, pt. iii. ch. xiv., is Medea's remark to Jason in Ovid's Medea, " Servare potui, perdere an possim rogas ? " where the major premise " Qui servare, perdere possunt " is understood . This use of the word enthymeme differs from Aristotle's original application of it to a syllogism based on probabilities or signs t< eiKOrrwv i1 arlµeiwv), i.e. on propositions which are generally valid (efK6ra) or on particular facts which may be held to justify a general principle or another particular fact (Anal. prior . xxvii . 7o a zo) . See beside text-books on logic, Sir W . Hamilton's Discussions 1847); Mansel's ed. of Aldrich, Appendix F; H W .

B .

Joseph, ntrod. to Logic, chap. xvi .